CCN extends its sincerest condolences to the parents, Suleman and RaziaGirach, and wife, Munthezeera and children Ridwaan (5) and Aadeel (1) of Rayhaan Girach (35) who passed away on Wednesday night from a sudden heart attack.

Rayhaan, a Chartered Accountant, arrived only recently from the UK to join his parents and in-laws and settle permanently in Brisbane. He worked as an accountant for Suncorp.

The funeral took place on Thursday at the Mt Gravatt Cemetery where a large gathering of family and friends made the Janaza Salaah.

Lecture by FEMYSO President

As part of the FAMSY Annual National Conference being held in Sydney in mid-July, the keynote speaker, Khallad Swaid, will also be conducting a national lecture tour around the country. The theme of the Brisbane lecture is "Good Muslim, Good Citizen - Is there a difference?"

Khallad Swaid is the President of the Forum of European Muslim Youth and Student Organisations (FEMYSO) which has 39 members in 23 European countries. He is very active in conducting various training and leadership programs and works extensively with youth and their roles as members of the wider community.

Also presenting a local perspective on the subject will be Dr. Muhammad Abdalla, the Director of the Griffith Islamic Research Unit

This is a rare opportunity, and one not to be missed, to learn at first hand from the experiences of a key player in the European Islamic community and to draw parallels with the issues that confront us here in this country.

For more information contact Umar Batchelor on 0421 717 846.

CCN Feature Article: Analogy of Zidane and the Muslim Ummah

by Farhad Khadim

I am not a soccer fan, but I was drawn to watch the last half of the World Cup match between Italy and France on Sunday, July 9. Part of the magnetic pull was Zinedine Zidane, a player whom I had read about briefly and whose profile seemed so unique that I sat down to watch him play his last game, a great soccer player who exemplified the best in sportsmanship, civility and citizenship. In my quest to understand the head-butt incident I ended up making an analogy between him
and billion or so Muslims who subscribe to the same faith that he does.

Zidane, the son of Muslim Algerian immigrants to France, rose to prominence in the soccer world despite the many obstacles in his way. He came to be loved by the French, in fact, to be considered quintessentially French. He proudly bore the hopes and dreams of his nation on his shoulders, delivered well when he won the World Cup for France in 1998. He is often spoken of in terms of endearment, lovingly called Zissou by his French countrymen, respected by colleagues and opponents alike for his civility and restraint.

In this World Cup he brilliantly carried France all the way to the finals against Italy. This was to be his last match before retirement, and France was proudly holding its breath for a sendoff that would have honored his distinguished career as a soccer great. Instead, the world was shocked when towards the end of the game, Zidane, apparently after trading some words with another Italian player, turned, took two steps forward and head-butted him in the chest, sending him falling backwards to the ground.

I was shocked and alarmed. Shocked at his conduct in such a public space and alarmed at what the implications would be. I felt betrayed by this great man, who I never knew, yet whom I felt drawn to after reading about him. I immediately thought that he must have been provoked. Materazzi must have said something disgusting to make Zidane react in such a manner. At the same time, I felt that out of respect to his own self and his legacy, and to the millions of people who regard him in high esteem, he should have shown restraint, no matter how ugly the remarks were.

It was then that it occurred to me that what I had just witnessed was a microcosm of the Muslim Ummah, played out in a soccer field before the eyes of the whole world. For me Zidane was the Muslim Ummah, with past glory and achievement crowning his forehead, leading his people to victory, achievement and a respectable place among nations. His opponents were bent on striking him down, and one in particular, Materrazi was an embodiment of the monstrous powers who are bent on occupying, provoking and stereotyping the Muslim Ummah.

And like the Ummah today, the provocation was too much for him. He snapped and did something uncharacteristic because he felt victimized. Perhaps he was called a "dirty terrorist" as some report, or his sister or mother were called by some degrading name as others report. Whatever it was, he lost all sense of where he was, his legacy, his future and the difference he could have made to the game, and fell victim to the deliberate provocative assaults on his person.

I see his reaction as analogous to the protests, flag burnings and other emotional outbursts committed by Muslims against others who may have deliberately provoked them.

Like Zidane, we shock the world when we do things uncharacteristic of our faith, and we betray those who see in us a ray of hope for civilization.

Like Zidane, the Muslim Ummah has suffered provocations and deliberate attempts to tarnish its image, despite great civilizational achievements for a millennium. And like Zidane, we snap when we cannot take it any more.

Like Zidane's suffering of an alleged abuse, we also suffer the abuse of the desecration of our holy symbols, occupation of our lands, colonization, genocide and murder of innocent civilians. And like him, the temptation is to turn our back on history, our legacy of patience and restraint and to lash out without considering whether our actions are ethical or strategic. Kidnappings, bombing of innocent civilians, destruction of property after the cartoon episode are all images that have come to characterize the Ummah.

As Zidane walked away from the field, past the trophy that could have been his, I thought: like him, will the Ummah get red-carded into oblivion, leaving behind a great legacy and squandering our opportunities to make a difference for humanity's future?

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Farhad Khadim lives in Toronto, Canada and often gives lectures on topics related to Islam.

It would appear that the Soccer World Cup in 2010 WILL be held in South Africa after all, and that reports to the contrary suggesting that Australia might be the beneficiary are without foundation.

CCN has it on dubious authority that the South African Government has an ingenious plan to make the event crime-free - it is going to ask all muggers, rapists, murderers, drug dealers, hijackers, looters, home invaders, thieves and fraudsters for a one month amnesty.

Rise of the Super-Juice

According to Britain's Daily Express, when it comes to juice, oranges are being squeezed out by an upstart fruit hailed for its health benefits - the pomegranate.

The pomegranate is considered to be one of nature's most powerful antioxidants, helping rid the body of impurities.

The juice is also said to have remarkable health-giving qualities which can boost the body against a wide range of diseases and ailments.

Scientists at the Lipid Research Laboratory in Haifa, Israel, have shown that pomegranate juice is effective at fighting heart and artery diseases.

Prostate cancer is the most common form of the disease affecting men. But researchers in America say half a pint of pomegranate juice each day is enough to slow the progress of illness. The drink could help a sufferer aged 65 to 70 to complete his normal life span. The fruit is also said to have anti-ageing properties.

The Pomegranate is mentioned in the Quran in Surat Al Rahman - Verse 68

Islamic Book Sale and Exhibition

You will find a variety of Islamic goods on sale between Thursday 20th July and Sunday 30th July (11am – 8pm daily) at the Darra Mosque.

Bicycles are being made available for Muslim girls at a school in east London to encourage them to take up cycling.
The Transport for London (TfL) grant is part of a £150,000 scheme to help encourage communities who do not use bikes to take up the activity.

Eighty girls and relatives have signed up for a cycling club at the Central Foundation School in Bow, east London.

Head teacher Anne Hudson said the scheme would help the girls experience the "sheer joy" of cycling.

Benefits of cycling

A TfL spokeswoman said the scheme was part of the Cycle London Promotional Partnership (CLPP), and would help pay for 20 bikes and for two teachers to be trained as cycling teachers.

"It's not just for the pupils - it's something the whole community can become involved in," she said.

The school was chosen to host the sessions because it is based in a predominantly Muslim community and the scheme is designed to encourage people to take up riding in communities which do not normally cycle.

Seventy per cent of the pupils at the school are Muslim.

TfL said many women come from communities where "they did not have the opportunity to cycle, or cycling is uncommon for women in their communities, or the cost of purchasing cycles is a barrier".

Ms Hudson said: "The CLPP community grant is giving our students and members of the local community the opportunity to experience the benefits of cycling - for their health, the environment and for the independence and sheer joy cycling gives."

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